We can already see all over the media that the climate crisis is causing agricultural export bans, flooding in some parts of the world, heatwaves etc. The World Meteorological Organization stated that in 2022 global mean temperature was 1.15°C higher than the 1850-1900 average.

Some analysts state that we may cross the 1.5°C mark before 2030, if we do not take proper action about reducing emissions. The Paris Agreement states “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and make efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

However, scientists say that if we cross the 1.5°C mark we will be at the risk of catastrophic weather events. Biodiversity is at a risk too and we do not want catastrophic changes to occur. We can already see a rapid rise in electric vehicles which have low emissions. And many countries are investing in renewable energy in order to achieve its net-zero targets. The United Nations has 17 Sustainable Development Goals for a better future.

Green finance is about solutions towards climate change. Sustainable brands are on the rise like never before, where we notice many young people purchasing sustainable brands. Climate change is the long-term risk which all businesses should consider. The Ceylon Institute Of English & Leadership (CIOEL) conducts courses which are skills-based. Their two main programmes offered are ‘Business English Leadership Programme’ and ‘Leadership & Sustainability Programme’. Apart from that CIOEL has a podcast series which are available on Google Podcasts, YouTube & other platforms. The podcasts are mainly about leadership & sustainability.

Watson Michael, CEO of CIOEL and Sean Kidney, CEO of Climate Bonds Initiative, an international organisation working to mobilise global capital for climate action, recently discussed about green finance via a podcast.

Furthermore, Kidney is a Professor in Practice at SOAS University of London, Member of the European Commission’s Platform on Sustainable Finance, Member of the Finance Industry Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency, Member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Sustainable Finance Advisory Panel & an expert advisor to governments around the world.